Welcome to Zest!

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Welcome to Zest!

Zest Integrated Health & Nutrition Clinic

Zest is an integrated health and nutrition therapy clinic offering one-to-one consultations. My aim is to help you restore optimum health and well-being. I am a registered nutritional therapist and work in a professional, friendly, relaxed and non-judgemental way to support you in your aim for better health. All consultations are conducted in the strictest confidence. I am one of the first wave of therapists in the UK studying for a functional medicine certification which is taught in the United States by medical doctors.

Nishtha Patel BA (HONS) DIP CNM MBANT

NUTRITIONAL THERAPIST

Nishtha's Journey

Nishtha's Journey

For the past two decades my background has been primarily in health and beauty. I have always had a keen interest in holistic therapies and over the years have completed courses in everything from Reiki and colonic hydrotherapy to live blood microscopy.

In 2010 my career took an unexpected twist when after a family holiday my daughter became extremely ill. Following an agonizing wait and multiple tests, she was eventually diagnosed with Proctitis. Medication worked for a while, but her health continued to deteriorate. It got to the point where the side effects of my daughter’s drugs required as many medications as the disease itself.

By the time she was 15 she was on a cocktail of drugs including a chemotherapy agent and prednisolone (steroids). Her consultant wanted to put her on a biological agent called Infliximab - a powerful TNF agent whose side effects include TB and cancer. It was then that I decided enough was enough. I researched everything from SCD diet to bone broth. As her condition worsened doctors were unsure if she was suffering from ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease.

In my search for solutions I was lucky enough to come across a life-changing book by Jini Patel Thompson. Jini had successfully cured herself of Crohn’s by developing and managing her own treatment programme.

I used Jini’s protocols and slowly weaned my daughter from her medication. Her symptoms started to disappear and she grew stronger. I feel that the protocols have worked and allowed her body to heal. My daughter is now a much healthier and happier young woman.

The whole experience made me realise what a powerful tool nutrition could be. I was now more determined than ever to share my knowledge and help others battling with similar problems. I enrolled with The London College of Naturopathic Medicine and completed a three-year diploma in Nutritional Therapy. I am currently studying for a functional medicine certification, taught by medical doctors in the United States. https://www. functionalmedicine.org

I have researched and read almost every book and paper on gut health and disease. My studies and passion have enabled me to help dozens of people regain their health and I hope that I can help you too.

My aim is to help people improve and maintain their health and sense of well-being through diet and nutrition. As a nutritional therapist I focus on the link between health and diet, with an emphasis on identifying the root cause of a health problem using my knowledge of food and nutrition to encourage the body’s natural healing process. In addition to this I look at chemical, environmental and genetic stressors. These all contribute to a person’s well-being or “dis-ease.”

Nutritional Therapy

Nutritional Therapy

Nutritional Therapy

Nutritional therapy is individually tailored to your requirements. Two people with the same disease may be affected by completely different nutritional or environmental factors that contribute to their “dis-ease”. Nutritional therapy will try and find the root cause, drivers or mediators that affect each individual. Often chemical, environmental or emotional stressors also play a role in the status of an individual’s well-being.

Diet and lifestyle are factors that have a profound influence on both the body and mind. Nutritional therapy aims to achieve optimum levels of energy, healthy blood sugar balance, physical and emotional well-being through a personalised programme.

Nutritional therapy is part of Complementary Medicine and is the study and application of nutrition science to support the maintenance of good health as well as optimal performance throughout all life stages. Nutritional therapy looks at nutritional imbalances and how these may be contributing to your symptoms or health concerns.

Being a complementary therapy, it works well alongside conventional medicine. It is also part of preventative medicine. Nutritional therapy aims to benefit people with long-term health issues or sub-optimal health as well as those looking to enhance their health and well-being.

Functional Medicine

Functional Medicine

What is Functional Medicine?

Functional medicine practitioners spend time with their patients, listening to their histories and looking at genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors that can also influence long-term health and complex, chronic disease. In this way, functional medicine supports the unique expression of health and vitality for each individual.

Functional medicine addresses the underlying causes of disease. It uses a systems-oriented approach and engages both patient and practitioner in a therapeutic partnership. It is an evolution in the practice of medicine that better addresses the healthcare needs of the 21st century. By shifting the traditional disease-centred focus of medical practice to a more patient-centred approach, functional medicine addresses the whole person, not just an isolated set of symptoms.

Sessions

Sessions

What will a nutritional therapy session involve?

A nutritional questionnaire will be emailed to you for completion prior to your initial consultation in order to ascertain a general understanding of your current nutritional status. This will include a three-day food diary.

A full analysis of your complete health history including current concerns, symptoms, family history and use of medication and current supplementation will be carried out.

Your nutritional status, diet and lifestyle will be assessed.

Based on nutritional science, your individual needs will be evaluated and a personalized nutrition and lifestyle program will be devised to help you achieve your goals.

In certain circumstances, functional testing .may be necessary. This could range from testing vitamin D and/or zinc status, to testing for parasitic infections, hormone testing, or gluten or food intolerance testing. Several tests including genetic testing may be carried out to help ascertain the presence of any suspected underlying conditions if required. As a result, supplements may be suggested to hasten improvements.